Laxatives » Archive
Constipation in practice. Case 3
A man comes into the pharmacy and asks for some good laxative tablets. Further questioning by the pharmacist reveals that the medicine is for his dad who is aged 72 years. He does not know many details except that his dad has been complaining of increasing constipation over the last 2-3 months and has tried senna tablets without any benefit. The pharmacist’s view Third-party or proxy consultations are often challenging because the person making the request may not have all of the relevant information. However, in this case the decision is quite clear. The patient needs to be referred to the doctor because of the long history of the complaint and the unsuccessful use of a stimulant laxative. The doctor’s view Referral to the GP should be recommended in this situation. A glycerin suppository … Read entire article »
Filed under: Medical Practice
Constipation in practice. Case 2
Your counter assistant asks if you will have a word with a young woman who is in the shop. She was recognised by your assistant as a regular purchaser of stimulant laxatives. You explain to the woman that you will need to ask a few questions because regular use of laxatives may mean an underlying problem, which is not improving. In answer to your questions she tells you that she diets almost constantly and always suffers from constipation. Her weight appears to be within the range for her height. You show her your pharmacy’s BMI (body mass index) chart and work out with her where she is on the chart, which confirms your initial feeling. However, she is reluctant to accept your advice, saying that she definitely needs to lose … Read entire article »
Filed under: Medical Practice
Constipation in practice. Case 1
Mr Johnson is a middle-aged man who occasionally visits your pharmacy. Today he complains of constipation, which he has had for several weeks. He has been having a bowel movement every few days; normally they are every day or every other day. His motions are hard and painful to pass. He has not tried any medicines as he thought the problem would go of its own accord. He has never had problems with constipation in the past. He has been taking atenolol tablets 50 mg once a day, for over 1 year. He does not have any other symptoms, except a slight feeling of abdominal discomfort. You ask him about his diet; he tells you that since he was made redundant from his job at a local factory 3 months … Read entire article »
Filed under: Medical Practice
A controlled trial of Dulcodos, Dulcolax and Senokot DX
It is now accepted that adequate preparation for most barium enema examinations is essential, particularly if the double contrast technique is to be used (Fisher 1923; 1925; Case, 1937; Welin, 1958). Several studies have shown that preparation with laxatives may be as good as, or better than, colon washout (Sowerbutts, 1960; Prat, Peynon and Prie, 1965; Mitchell, 1967), and may cause the patient far less discomfort. Controlled trials have demonstrated the superiority of a standardised senna preparation (Senokot) over cascara (Duncan, 1957), and of bisacodyl (Dulcolax) over glycerine suppositories (Church, 1959) and over castor oil (Keogh and Fraser, 1958; Popell and Bangappa, 1959; Ritan, 1962). Recently laxative preparations including the faecal softener and detergent dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate (Wilson and Dickinson, 1955; Hyland and Foran, 1968) have been introduced and it … Read entire article »
Filed under: Manuscripts
Good Health Habits
There are a number of sensible lifestyle habits that can help avoid constipation. These include: Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of liquid, especially water, each day Eat a diet high in fiber, including fruits and vegetables Enjoy your meals in a leisurely manner Get sufficient exercise Establish a regular time for going to the bathroom Take all the time you need for a comfortable elimination When you feel the urge to move your bowels, don’t put it off Get adequate rest and relaxation Fluids can help Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of liquids – especially water – is highly recommended to help avoid constipation. Try to avoid too much of caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, tea, or cola drinks. They can cause you to urinate more, which means your body is eliminating much needed fluids. Contrary to what you might think, drinking … Read entire article »
Filed under: Good Health
The Story of Senokot Products
What is a Natural Vegetable Laxative? Senna has been been used for centuries to help treat constipation. Crude senna is derived from Cassia acutifolia or Cassia angustifolia plants, commonly called senna plants. Today, you can find senna (containing laxatives called sennosides) as an active ingredient in all Senokot® Laxatives. The sennosides in Senokot Laxatives are standardized using a process which was pioneered by The Purdue Frederick Company. Standardization means that modern scientific techniques were applied to ensure the same amount of sennosides in each type of Senokot Laxative in every bottle, every time. Senna standardization assures consistent potency and, thus, predictability. Centuries of Use The use of senna as a laxative seems to have originated in Egypt more than 3,500 years ago. In fact, references to its use go back to the days of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Medications
Senokot Laxatives: Questions and Answers
What can I expect if I take one dose of Senokot® Natural Vegetable Laxatives? Taking the recommended adult dose of two Senokot Tablets or two Senokot-S Tablets (or two teaspoons of Senokot Granules or Senokot Syrup) at bedtime should help provide relief of constipation overnight. The maximum dose is 4 tablets twice daily for adults. If your stools are hard and dry, Senokot-S provides the added benefit of a stool softener. How long do I have to take a Senokot® Natural Vegetable Laxative before I’ll notice any relief? You should receive relief overnight. However, some people may find that repeating the dose the next day or the next evening is helpful. For certain types of constipation, such as that caused by constipating medications, Senokot doses may be recommended by a healthcare provider. Can children … Read entire article »
Filed under: Medications
Logical treatment for constipation
Logical treatment for constipation and its complications Developing a shared model of the interaction of the factors may involve consideration of many of the factors above which should be clear from a full history, examination, and perhaps abdominal radiograph. If features of Hirschsprung’s disease are present then suction rectal biopsy for acetylcholinesterase positive nerve excess should be requested. Evacuation of retained faeces in the large rectum is best carried out by softening the mass sufficiently with docusate sodium (Dioctyl paediatric syrup, Medo) then using sodium picosulphate elixir (Laxoberal, Windsor or less acceptably Picolax, Ferring) as a single dose provided the faecal mass is of a size which could be physically passed through the pelvic outlet and anus. If there is doubt about this then a more prolonged course of docusate sodium with … Read entire article »
Filed under: Constipation
Management of chronic constipation
Constipation: delay in defaecation leading to distress (which may include anal or abdominal pain, overflow soiling, anorexia) Soiling: the escape of stool into the underclothing Encopresis: the passage of normal stools in abnormal places General principles of management • Chronic constipation is important to treat in childhood because obstructive constipation in the young child will interfere with the child’s physical development and overflow faecal soiling in the older child will have a destructive effect on self esteem and confidence. Constipation may also complicate other childhood illness especially urological and neurodevelopmental problems. • It is important to accept that the course is likely to be protracted and subject to disappointing relapses that demoralise all those involved. • It should be recognised that every child has an individual weave of the factors and processes that both initiate the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Constipation
Treatment of Chronic Constipation
The British Medical Journal, Feb. 22, 1936 Before beginning the treatment of a case of alleged constipation one should ascertain whether the patient really is constipated or only believes himself to be so. He should therefore be instructed to stop all aperients for three days, taking only a teaspoonful or two of paraffin at night to keep the contents of the bowel soft. If at the end of that time there has been no proper relief, constipation may be diagnosed. If the rectum is full of faeces it is a case of dyschezia; if not, of Colon constipation, of which there are two varieties: (1) atonic; (2) spastic. Atonic Constipation General Management Insist on the patient’s making a regular daily attempt at evacuation and giving enough time to the act. See also that the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Manuscripts
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